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Medical Information for Clinicians

The medical literature contains numerous reports of complex medical and surgical procedures performed successfully without transfusion of allogeneic whole blood or its primary components. Avoiding blood transfusion involves the optimal use of clinical strategies to minimize blood loss, conserve autologous blood, enhance hematopoiesis, and augment tolerance of anemia. This section contains citations of peer-reviewed articles from leading medical journals, presenting evidence in support of the use of autologous blood conservation and alternatives to blood transfusion.

 

Medicine and Surgery

Clinical strategies for managing hemorrhage and anemia without allogeneic blood transfusion.

Pediatrics

Clinical strategies for managing neonatal and pediatric patients without allogeneic blood transfusion.

Diseases and Conditions

Clinical strategies for managing specific diseases or conditions without allogeneic blood transfusion.

Bioethics and Law

Ethical, legal, and social factors for health-care professionals to consider when treating Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Featured Articles

Preoperative correction of anemia to allow a 3000 ml blood loss without transfusion in a Jehovah's Witness presenting for explantation of an infected hip joint prosthesis: a case report. (opens new window)

Perez-Chrzanowska H, Cruz Pardos A, Burgueño Gonzalez MD, Gomez Barrena E

Source‎: A A Pract 2020;14(6):e01196.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32784312

DOI‎: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001196

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32784312 (opens new window)

Venetoclax plus LDAC for newly diagnosed AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy: a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial. (opens new window)

Wei AH, Montesinos P, Ivanov V, DiNardo CD, Novak J, Laribi K, Kim I, Stevens DA, Fiedler W, Pagoni M, Samoilova O, Hu Y, Anagnostopoulos A, Bergeron J, Hou JZ, Murthy V, Yamauchi T, McDonald A, Chyla B, Gopalakrishnan S, Jiang Q, Mendes W, Hayslip J, Panayiotidis P

Source‎: Blood 2020;135(24):2137-45.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32219442

DOI‎: 10.1182/blood.2020004856

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32219442 (opens new window)

Efficacy of quadruple treatment on different types of pre-operative anaemia: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. (opens new window)

Rössler J, Hegemann I, Schoenrath F, Seifert B, Kaserer A, Spahn GH, Falk V, Spahn DR

Source‎: Anaesthesia 2020;75(8):1039-49.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32342498

DOI‎: 10.1111/anae.15062

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32342498 (opens new window)

Treatment of acute leukaemia in adult Jehovah's Witnesses. (opens new window)

El Chaer F, Ballen KK

Source‎: Br J Haematol 2020;190(5):696-707.

Indexed‎: PubMed 31693175

DOI‎: 10.1111/bjh.16284

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31693175 (opens new window)

Effect of high-dose erythropoietin on blood transfusions in extremely low gestational age neonates: post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial. (opens new window)

Juul SE, Vu PT, Comstock BA, Wadhawan R, Mayock DE, Courtney SE, Robinson T, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Baserga M, LaGamma EF, Downey LC, O'Shea M, Rao R, Fahim N, Lampland A, Frantz ID 3rd, Khan J, Weiss M, Gilmore MM, Ohls R, Srinivasan N, Perez JE, McKay V, Heagerty PJ; Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial Consortium

Source‎: JAMA Pediatr 2020;174(10):933-43.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32804205

DOI‎: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.2271

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32804205 (opens new window)

How I treat cancer-associated anemia. (opens new window)

Gilreath JA, Rodgers GM

Source‎: Blood 2020;136(7):801-13.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32556170

DOI‎: 10.1182/blood.2019004017

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32556170 (opens new window)

IVMP+IVIG raises platelet counts faster than IVIG alone: results of a randomized, blinded trial in childhood ITP. (opens new window)

Carcao M, Silva M, David M, Klaassen RJ, Steele M, Price V, Wakefield C, Kim L, Stephens D, Blanchette VS

Source‎: Blood Adv 2020;4(7):1492-1500.

Indexed‎: PubMed 32282882

DOI‎: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001343

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32282882 (opens new window)

Patient blood management (PBM) in pregnancy and childbirth: literature review and expert opinion. (opens new window)

Surbek D, Vial Y, Girard T, Breymann C, Bencaiova GA, Baud D, Hornung R, Taleghani BM, Hösli I

Source‎: Arch Gynecol Obstet 2020;301(2):627-41.

Indexed‎: PubMed 31728665

DOI‎: 10.1007/s00404-019-05374-8

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31728665 (opens new window)

A restrictive hemoglobin transfusion threshold of less than 7 g/dL decreases blood utilization without compromising outcomes in patients with hip fractures. (opens new window)

Amin RM, DeMario VM, Best MJ, Shafiq B, Hasenboehler EA, Sterling RS, Frank SM, Khanuja HS

Source‎: J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2019;27(23):887-94.

Indexed‎: PubMed 30829898

DOI‎: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-18-00374

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30829898 (opens new window)

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Downloadable Resources

Subjects include: Clinical strategies for managing hemorrhage and anemia without blood transfusion, the religious and ethical position of Jehovah’s Witnesses on medical therapy, and the services Witnesses offer to the medical community through their worldwide network of Hospital Liaison Committees.

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Videos

Treatment options as well as medical and ethical considerations for clinicians who treat Jehovah’s Witnesses.

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